Moving ink droplets take the top prize in the Nikon Small World competition

“Ole Bielfeldt’s winning image embodies what makes Nikon Small World so powerful: the intersection of microscope imaging, ingenuity and artistry,” said Eric Flem, spokesman for Nikon Instruments. “By using a microscope lens differently, he transformed a familiar object into something completely new and previously unseen. It is a reminder that the microscope is not only a scientific but also a creative tool, capable of expanding the way we see and imagine the world around us.”

Founded in 1974, the Nikon Small World competition celebrates its 52nd anniversary this year. In 2011, the company added the Small World in Motion competition (see the 2026 winner here). Both are intended to “show the beauty and complexity of things seen through the light microscope” – one through still images, the other through photovideography, taking advantage of all the technological advances that now allow users to make films or time-lapse images through the microscope.

Here are the top ten winners from this year’s competition. The full list of honorable mentions can be found here. Nikon is also producing a full-color 2027 calendar with the 2026 winners.